Scotch-hearth feeding mechanism



v Feb. 10,1931. H. R. MacMlcHAEL SGOTCH HEARTH FEEDING MECHANISM Filed'June 22, 1927 a sheets-sheet s 'Y Patented Feb.v 170, 1931 UNITED sliAi'iisv s HUGH E. MAQMICHAEL, E EL PASO', TEXAS, AssIkGNoR {io AMERICAN SMEETING AND EEEINING COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A coEroEA'rIoN on NEW JERSEY 'scorcH-HEAETE; rnEDiNG MECHANISE 'Application ined :rune 22,

The invention relates `to apparatus for metal smelting, and, more particularly, to a` mechanical feeding mechanism for feeding 1 and distributingthe charge to a Scotch hearth Y5A type furnace such as used in lead smelting.

Accordingto the invention, a carriage is provided whichI moves back and forth along a Scotch hearth and which may have continuous motion during its operating trip.` The lo carriageis providedwith mechanical feeding mechanism and may also be provided with mechanical poking or rabbling mechanism and mechanical shoveling or spreading mechanism. If desired, however, the rabbling and` shovelingimay be done by hand. I The feeding mechanism, according to the invention, may comprise a. suitable charge container preferably feeding into a ksuitable conveyor which delivers'the charge to the 2o hearth. Suitable shaking mechanism may be provided to cause the charge to be fed and distributed in the desired manner. Suitable devices may be provided for controlling the distribution of charge to different parts of 25 the hearthg, rlllhegrelative distribution Aof l charge across the width of the hearth'and throughout vthe length of vthe'hearth maybe conveniently regulated and changed as oc'- casion demands. y f i j v vVarious other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of theaccompanying drawings. l

The invention also consists in certain new' and original .features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter setforth and claimed. .Y In the accompanying drawings, there is v shown for purposes of illustration one form of a device embodying the invention, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the carriage.

equipped with the feeding Iiiechanism7 lookT i ing toward the back of the furnace; A

Fig. 2is a top view taken on theline 2-2 of Figl;` 'Y Y Fig. 3 shows an endview of the carriage and feeding mechanism and a section through I the furnace; Y Y Y Y Y Y Fig. 4 is a detailshowing' the construction Vof the shaking mechanism,and 'z t 1927. serial No. 200,524.

'Figbis a detail showing the controlling gates for: controlling the flowof the'chaige: Y'

Like reference characters denote like parts names for convenience, but theylare intended e. to be as generic in ltheir applicationto similar parts as'the the artjwill permit:V Y Y Referring now tothe drawing, and,` more particularly to Fig. 3, so much of a Scotchv hearth as is ne'cessary'to anfunderstanding of the .invention will be described. The hearth;` comprises the usual trough 1,*relatively `shallow and narrow, but companatively long. At l thef front end ofthe trough is la forwardly and slightly downwardly :sloping apron 2. p

Atthe back ofthe trough is the furnace back which has a hollow space 3, in which cooling Water may bezcirculated, below which are series of tuyresi, extending'v the length of the furnace for supplying thenecessary draft, as is well understood. :Above the back is a canopy or hood 5'fo`r catching the fumes two overhead'l trackrails .6"supporting a-l-ztraveling carriage-1`2.The .traveling car# soY riage is supportediby two axles 7 yand 8each;

axlehaving two wheels9 andthe carriage is f l y made uprof suitable structural members. i `The carriage support'suitablerabbling and shoveling mechanism (not shown) and also supports the feeding mechanism which is de.-

Y- scribed more in detail hereinafter. v

For driving the carriage 12 a separate electricmotorl() isprovided. One of the axles 8 has a cog wheel 1:1A secured thereto, this ycog wheel being connectedto another cog wheel :14 which is operatively connected to themotor The motor lOisiof-the reversible typel and may have provision' for Arunning-at an in 'creased speed when reversed.v The carriage is i adapted tojmove along` in front of the hearth, and -on its operating trip the motor ported in'suitable bearings in the frame.

`10 to reverse, thereby causing-the carriage to return to its starting position at increased speed. At the starting position the switch lever may hit another 'stop (not shown) which'causes thel motor to reverse again, thereby causing the carriage to travel on its operating trip at the reduced speed.

For operating the feeding-mechanism, a separate motor 16 is shown, this motor having drive connection with a counter shaft 17 Y sigon intermediate shaft`l 18 vis positioned' between the motor andthe counter shaft, the intermediate shaft having a large gear 19 meshing a smaller gear-20 on the motor shaft, and a smaller gear 21 meshing a larger gear 22 en the counter shaft.-V .f

The carriage frame supports a suitable charge containeror hopper 25 into which the charge, whichfniay be pre-mixed. ore, lfume and fuel lfinely divided, maybe -delivered in any desired way.l The hopper 25 tapers downwardly as shov'vnf-in Figs. 1 and 3. The l bottom wall of the hopper is closed and the sidebas van vopening forming a mouth 23. Beneath the'rhopper is an'inclined chute kor table 26, this chute extending backwardly toward the furnace and slightly downwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. vThe chute is suitably sub-.divided by'longitu'dinal Walls -27 forming aV number ofsmallertroughs or conduits28: t The endof the chute 26 is cut ati an angle of about 45. softhat thecharge which tris fed'down the troughs 28 maybe fed and distributed throughoutfthe width kof lthe hearth as showninFig-. l

The chute `26 issuitably mounted on the frame Vby means Ioflfoiir mountings 29, these mountings each consistingv ofY a casing in which is'disposed a suitable Vspring means so that a considerable play or shaking action maytake place between tlieclfiutek and the carriage frame, as hereinafter described more in detailf Depending from thechute 26 is a pair ofbearings30 in which isjournalled a shaker 'shaft'31 having unbalanced weights 32 fixed thereon. 1 f i F or controlling the ow ofcharge downthe several troughs 28, individual gates 33 are provided at the mouth of the hopper 25, these gates each running Von suitable guides and having a hand screw 34'-for holding it in thev propervr position. VThese gates may beV usedv for regulating the relative amounts of charge f fed down the severaltroughs. A vsprocket 37 may be loosely mounts upon the counter shaft '17, and a clutch-38 may be provided for connecting anddisconnecting the sprocket tom the counter shaft.

An intermediatel shaft 39 may be provided Vhaving a small sprocket 40 and a large rangement operates to Aspeed up Vthe shaken shaft.

It will be understood that the relatively low speed `of the counter shaft 17 is necessary for driving the other operating -inechanisni, such. as rabbling and shoveling mechanism,` (not shown) mounted on the carriage. y Y a The clutch 38 is controlled by a 'suitable control linkage Operated rby the movement of' tlie'carriage. Extending along the hearth and throughout substantially the extent of the carriage travel isa controlv vrail 47:, the ends 48 thereof slopiiigaway from the carriage. .A control lever 49 having a rol-ler which may be 50, engages the control rail 47'to operatetheV Y control linkage. The control lever 49 is pivoted to the frame at 51 and is connected through link 52 to clutch lever 5 3 pivoted tov the frame' at 54. The clutch 33' is provided with a grooved collar in which rides a collar 56 having pivoted connection with clutch lever-53. Y i

`When the carriage is traveling its operating trip asshown by the arrow in Fig. 2, the

operating lever is in the position denotedby A in Fig. 2, andthe rclutch 38 is engaged,

thereby causing the feeding .mechanism tobe lll/*hen the carriage reaches the operated. end of its operating'trip, the control lever 49 will run oil' the end 48 of control rail 4'?. rl'he clutch sprine" and, if desired, auxiliary spring 59` will Vcause the control lever 49 to assume a neutral position, as indicated by l5 in Fig. 2, in whichv position the clutch 33 is disengaged and the feeding tmeclianisin stops. f f.

During. the back trip of the carriage, the control lever 49'assumcs an opposite position as indicated by C, but this'has no effect upon the engagement of the clutch, the feeding mechanismV remaining inoperative. lWhen the control lever 49 runsfover the starting end 48 of the control rail'47 it ragain assumes its neutral position', and, when'the carriage begins its next loperating trip, the control lever assumes ar position to operate the clutch and cause .the feeding mechanism to function. Y y

The slope of the chute 261s notsufiicient to cause 'thecharge to fiow down unless th chute is shaken.

action. As the 'carriage travels on Vits operating trip, tlie charge will be feddown the troiighs 28, and its distribution on the hearth- 33. The arrangement is such thatvery ac-` will be controlled by the opening of the gates curate control of spreading may be obtained, and by pre-mixing the fuel, ore and fume, a very efiicient smelting action may be o-bf tained. The poking operation followed by the leveling or shovelingf operation above des scribed may precede the feeding operation,

and the poking and shoveling operations as above describechmay be performed by apparatus (not shown) mounted on the carriage, or may be performed by hand.

Thus an automatic feeding mechanism has been provided for a llead smelting Scotch hearth which is effective and efficient in operation. The distribution of charge on the hearth can be nicely controlled to meet different operating conditions imposed by va- Vrions vcauses such as changesin the ore and in the condition of the fire. The `relative distribution across the hearth may be controlled by operation of the gates to allow different amounts of charge to .be fed down the several troughs. rElie relative distribution along c the length of thehearthv may be controlled by Veliinging the position of the gates along the path'of travel of the carriage. rlhe arf rangement is simple and rugged in construction, insuring long life and small-expense of Yupkeep. The feeding mechanism requires no great skill to operate and yet aids materially in maintaining a uniform and effective 1 :e throughoiitthe hearth, resulting in maximum metal recovery from the ore.

,Vhile certain novel features of v the inven l tion have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit Vof theinvention.

Vhat is claimed is:

l. In combination with a metallurgical Y heartli'having a relatively long and narrow basin,` a support, means for moving said support'relatively to said hearth, a. source Vof supply of charge on said support, a distribut- .port relatively to said hearth at a uniform rate, means on said support for ydelivering a stream of charge to saidV basin, and means for controlling the distribution of. said stream across the width of said basin during the supports'y relative 'i movement `of said j hearth and 8.111" combination-r' withametallurgical VVhearth having a `long'itiidinally Yextending' basin, mechanical feeding mechanism com. prising. a carriage adapted to travelalongI said hearth, jailiopper I n -said carriage, an.y inclined chutebelow the mouth of said hopper extending. over said -.basin, .the end`- ofsaid'V chute being disposed across said basin, lsaid chute' beingv'divided up into separate feed troughs, said mouth `having gatesone for each feed trough, springmountings .between said chute andcarriage,v a shaker shaft'journaled yon said chuteand having unbalancedr weights, devicesv mounted on-said carriage for.

driving said shaker shaft, and means controllable by the movement of" said Carriage for controlling said devices,Y

. 4. ln combination with ai metallurgicalhearth having 'a longitudinallyrfextending basin, mechanical; feeding mechanism com-y prising a carriage adapted to move 4along'iin front off-said hearth, a motor onsaid carriage, a hopper on -said carr'iagevhaving a mouth at ,the vbottom thereof,aninclined chute having one end below said mouth and the otheriend over ,said basin, saidchute hav-f ing itsV discharge end extending across said hearth, walls dividing'rsaid chuteinto a plurality offeed trougha-saidmouth having con-.

trollable gates, one :for each feed trough,

rspring mountingsbetween said -chute andV carriage, a shaker yshaft journaled on said l' cliuteand having unbalanced weights, and,

means for driving, said shaker shaft by' said motor. e

5.1151' combina-tion with a hearthhaving a longitudinally extending basin, mechanical feeding Ymechanism comprisingfa carriage `adapted to move alongin front of sai'dhearth, means including a separate motor for 'in iparting a continuous movement'to said carr riage on its operating trip, yasecondinotor on said carriage, a counter shaftb'elow said second motor, reduction gearing connectingv said second motor and counter shaft, ahopfv per on said carriage having a mouth atthe4 bottom thereof, an inclined chute having .one end below said mouth and the otherend over said basin, saidchute having its discharge end cut at substantially 45 degrees with the lengthy of said hearth, walls' dividing said chute intov a plurality of feed troughs, `said mouthhaving acontrollable gate,on e for each iio feed trough, spring mountings between said chute and carriage, ashaker shaft journaled on said chuteY and having unbalanced weights,

aj shaker sprocket loosely mounted on said'- counter shaft, a'clutch Vcontrolled by the movement Aof said carriage for Vconnecting said sprocket to said counter shaft, an intermediate shaft, and sprocketsjandchains for driving said shaker shaft-by saidshaker sprocket through said` intermediate shaft;-`

Vieri 6. Smelting apparatuscomprising a leadsmelting hearth having a relatively long and narrow charge-holding ubasin, a carriage, meansfor-movingsald carnage with a continuous movementalong said hearth, a disi tributing device on said carriage, extending Y over said basin, saidrdistributing device comprising a plurality of chutes sloping slightlyv and extending to different points across the widthof Vsaid basin, the end of each chute being disposed at an angle to the length of said basin, means for shaking said distributing device to feed charge tov said basin, a charge container on said carriage feeding said distributing device', and Vmeans for individually controlling the flow of charge in each chute to control the distribution of charge across said basin.

7. Smelting apparatus comprising a leadsmelting hearth having a relatively long and narrow charge-holding basin, a carriage,

Vmeans for moving` said carriage with a continuous movement along said hearth, a distributing device on said carriage extending over saidbasin, said distributing device comprising a plurality of chutes sloping slightly and extendingto different points across the width of'said'basin,j means for shaking said distributing device to feed charge to said basin, a charge container on said carriage feeding said distributingdevice, and means for individually controlling the flow of Y charge in each chuteto controlthe distribution of charge across said basin.

Y 8. Smelting apparatus comprisinga metalsmelting hearth having a relatively long and narrow charge-holding basin, a carriage, means for moving said carriage along said hearth, a distributing device on said carriage extending over said basin,` said distributing device comprising a plurality of conduits extending to different points across the Width of said basin, means for individually controlling the'y flow of chargethrough each conduit to control the distribution of charge across said basin, and means for supplying charge to said distributing device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. v

HUGHLR. MACMICHA'EL. n 

